Container and closure therefor



June 1939.

J. HAMBERGER 2,162,712 CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Filed July 9, 1936 INVENTQR f Hawk W 4 TTQRNZZKQ Patented June 20, 1939 UITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices such as tamperproof closures, and is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 71,847, filed March 31, 1936.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, including a one piece closure and indicator, comprising a locking and breaking spring housed and protected by the indicator and serving to break the indicator at its junction with the closure sothat the indicator will be removed in its entirety without leaving the objectionable protuberances as on partial or fragmentary breakage.

A supplemental object of the invention is to furnish such a device wherein the indicator comprises a horizontal annular flange having a depending skirt, the underlying spring having its teeth in direct engagement with the flange to cause the teeth to deform upward on attempted removal of the closure to thus cause upward breakage of the flange.

A related object of the invention is to furnish such a device having a ring spring adapted to be dropped fiatwise onto the container for a simplified assembling action.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as'the specification proceeds.

With the-aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the neck portion of a container, partly in section, and a closure in section applied thereto showing an embodiment of the invention on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a container neck and closure, in section, applied thereto showing a modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the embodiment of closure of Figure 1 applied to a sheet metal container.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a sheet metal container with the opening therein and a closure applied thereto, on an enlarged scale, showing. an indicator portion. of the closure and container arranged with modified co-operating means tolock the closure; to the container and effect breaking of the indicator portion of the closure in removing the closure from the container. fi-

Figure 6; is a cross sectional view taken on the line- 6-6- of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrow. 7 F

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1-4 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing a modified arrangement of themetal container to co-operate with the indicator of a closure to hold the closure to the container and effect breaking of the indicator by movement of the closure to remove it from the container.

Figures 9, 10 and 12 are fragmentary views of a portion of the neck of a container and a closure showing further'modifications of the means on the container and indicator to hold the closure to the container and effect breaking thereof by movement of the closure to remove it from the container.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view taken on the line Il--l| l of Figures 9, l0 and 12 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing a modified form of the means on the container and indicator of the closure to hold the closure to the container and break the indicator by a movement of the closure to remove it from the container.

Figure l4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the neck of a container and indicator portion of a closure in section as of Figure 1 and showing a modified arrangement of the closure and container to effect breaking of the indicator from the closure.-

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on the line lB- -l 5 of Figure 14 looking in the direction of the arrows. I

The invention is illustrated in the drawing in connection with the neck of a container, such as a bottle, but it will be obvious'that the invention is capable of use with other forms of containers.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures l and2 the closure is shown in connection with the neck of a container C, such as a glass bottleand the like, provided with an external' device for engagement of a complemental device on a closure for the mouth of the container to apply the closure to the container to close the container mouth or opening by a rotary movement in one direction and remove the closure by a rotary movement in the opposite direction. This device is shown as a screw thread I6 formed on the container neck, although it may consist of segments of a screw thread, or be in the form of lugs with the under surface arranged in the pitch line of a screw thread. The neck is provided below the portion with the screw thread with a portion of increased diameter l1 arranged with integral outwardly extending lugs l8, shown as two in number arranged diametrically opposite on the portion l1, and as shown extending through an arc of approximately 90 degrees, the outer edge portion of the lugs being in an arc of a circle concentric with the portion l? with the opposite end portions diminishing in projection and merging in the wall of the portion H. The upper surface of said lugs diverge downwardly from the portion I! at an acute or steep angle relative to the vertical or axis of the container, and the under surface diverges from the upper surface toward the container at a slight, angle to the horizontal. Below the portion 11 there is arranged on the neck an annular head l 9 the upper surface of which preferably declines at a slight angle from the portion".

The closure is of the cap type having a disk end portion and a peripheral body 2| depending therefrom, the closure preferably being made of molded material, such as Bakelite and other synthetic resinous material. The body of the closure cap is formed on the inner surface to cooperate with the device I 6 on the neck of the container to apply and remove the closure cap by a rotary movement thereof and shown as of screw thread form, as at 2|, complemental to the thread It on the container. A sealing gasket, shown as a liner or pad 22, of suitable material, is interposed between the closure cap and end wall of the neck about the container mouth and adapted to be compressed between said wall and the closure cap in applying the closure cap to the container. The exterior surface of the body of the closure cap is provided with a gripping surface in the form of flutes 20' circumferentially spaced about and extending longitudinally of the body of the closure cap to facilitate applying the closure cap to and removing it from the container. To hold the closure cap to the container and prevent surreptitious removal of the closure cap from the container and tampering with the contents of the container, the closure cap is provided with integral means that is visible and may be readily observed by viewing the closure on the container in elevation. For this purpose the closure cap is provided with an integral portion that is slightly resilient and not only itself readily breakable but also readily breakable from the closure cap, and comprising an indicator in the form of a peripheral skirt 23 integral with and depending from the body of the closure cap and somewhat thinner or of less thickness than 7 said body whereby it is rendered slightly resilient to permit of slight expansion and contraction thereof. As shown the indicator skirt 23 is of ;greater diameter than the body of the closure cap and is integral with and depends from a portion 24 extending radially outwardly from the body of the closure cap and is arranged with an annular weakening zone adjacent the juncture thereof with the outer surface of the body of the closure cap, and shown as produced by arranging annular opposed recesses in the opposite faces of said radially extending portion 24, as at 25, whereby the flange with the indicator skirt may be readily broken from the closure cap on said weakened portion 25, and when so broken the fracture surface will be on the exterior surface of the body of the closure cap and readily visible in elevation or at an angle to the axis of the closure.

To permit engaging the closure cap with the indicator skirt on the container to close the container opening or mouth, hold the closure cap to the container and effect breaking of the indicator skirt of and from the body of the closure cap by a movement of the closure cap to remove it from the container, the indicator skirt is formed with means on and to project from the interior face thereof, which means is adapted to pass or snap over and engage below the container lugs as the closure cap is applied to the container, and to engage with said lugs by a movement of the closure cap to remove it from the container and by the resistance thereby of the indicator skirt to participate in the movement of the closure cap in the removal thereof from the container break the indicator itself and from the body of the closure cap. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 this means comprises an annular inwardly extending projection or ledge 26 having the upper surface inclining from the indicator skirt at substantially the same angle as the under surface of the lugs l8, and a face diverging from the upper surface at substantially'the same angle as the upper surface of the lugs.

In the operation of applying the closure cap to the container neck the closure cap with the sealing pad or gasket therein is engaged upon the container neck and by a rotary movement thereof in one direction engage the closure thread with and follow the container thread I6, thereby drawing the closure cap to the container neck and firmly compressing the gasket between the closure cap and end of the container neck and sealing the container opening or mouth. As such rotary movement is imparted to the closure cap the under diverging face of the ledge 26 will be caused to ride down on the downwardly diverging surface of the container lugs l8, and as such surface is of a steep or acute angle diametrically opposite portions of the indicator will be gradually expanded and simultaneously diametrically opposite portions at substantially a right angle to said expanding portions will be contracted causing the portion of the indicator skirt with the ledge 26 to be sprung or snapped over the container lugs and engage the ledge below said lugs just prior to the closure cap being seated on the container, as shown in Figure 1. In this position of the closure cap the ledge 26 in co-operation with the container lugs l8 will hold the closure cap to the container and it can only be removed from the container by breaking the indicator.

To break the indicator itself and from the closure cap to remove the closure cap from the container, rotary movement of the closure cap is effected in a direction opposite to that in applying the closure cap to the container. By such movement of the closure cap the upper surface of the ledge 26 on the indicator skirt will engage with the under surface of the lugs l8 and as said surfaces are arranged at a relatively flat angle'to the horizontal they are incapable of effecting outward expansion of the indicator with the result that by the continued movement of the closure cap a force is exerted in a direction axially of the closure and thereby a stress transmitted to the indicator and its weakened connection with the body of the closure cap that will not only to screw it onto the break the indicator but the commodity with the container and indicate that the closure has been removed from the container and possibly the contents of the container tampered with.

In the embodiment of the invention shownin Figure 3 the construction and arrangement of the parts are the same as described in connection -with Figures 1 and 2, except that the indicator skirt 23 is arranged to slightly incline or diverge outwardly relative to the axis of the closure. The indicator functions in applying and removing the closure cap from the container in a manner substantially the same as the arrangement in Figures 1 and 2.

In the embodiment of Figure 4 the construction and arrangement of the closure cap is the same as that disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, but shown as adapted for use in sheet metal containers C", the container being provided with a neck having lugs pressed outwardly therefrom, as at it, with which the ledge 25 on the indicator co-operates to hold the closure cap to the container and break the indicator 23- by a movement of the closure cap to remove it from the container.

The arrangement of Figure that of Figure 1 except that the under face of the container lugs l8 are arranged with a tooth or teeth and the upper face of the ledge 26 on the indicator is arranged with transversely extending serrations or teeth, as at 21, said teeth on the container and the serrations on the indicator ledge being arranged, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 11, to permit the indicator ledge to be snapped over the container lugs l8 and the serrations or teeth of the indicator ledge 25 to ride over the teeth of the container .lugs when the closure cap is rotated or turned in a direction container, and the teeth and serrations engaged when the closure cap is turned in the opposite from the container and by said engagement resist the movement of the'indicator with the closure member and set up not only a tensional stress but also a torsional stress that will not only break the indicator but also break the same from the closure cap.

The arrangement of the closure cap in Figure 9 is similar to that shown in Figure 3, except that the ledge 2t on the indicator skirt is in structure in cross section reverse to that shown in Figure 3, and provided with serrations or teeth extending in a direction longitudinally of the indicator skirt to engage and co-operate with a corresponding formed tooth or teeth, as shown at 28, integral with and extending laterally from the portion 5'! of the container neck spaced from the threaded portion of the neck by a downwardly diverging portion H. The closure cap functions in a manner substantially the same as that of Figure 12, the serrations or teeth of the indicator riding over the teeth on closure cap is turned to screw it onto the container, and said teeth engaging by a turning connection with the 12 is similar to direction to unscrew it screwed onto the neck sleeve the container as the movement of the closure cap to unscrew it from the container and thereby exerting a torsional stress on the indicator that will break said indicator and'break the indicator from the closure cap at the weakening zone 25.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 10 is similar to that shown in Figure 9 except that the serrations or teeth on the container are arranged on an intermediate divergingportion 23' of the indicator skirt 23 and the tooth or teeth on the container neck are arranged on a diverging portion 29 of the portion 11 of the container neck. The indicator skirt of Figure 10, as well as of Figures 1, 3, 4, 9 and 12, is of a'length to extend adjacent to the bead l9 to preventinserting an implement between the indicator and the container toeflect a springing of theledge of the indicator in the arrangement of Figures, 1, 3, 4 and 12 over the lugs l8, and in the arrangement of Figures 9 and 10 sufficiently to permit turning movement of the closure cap without engagingthe teeth or. serrations of the indicator with the container tooth or teeth 28 and surreptitiously remove the closure cap from the container.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7 the closure is adapted to be applied to a sheet metal container and showing a modification of the co-operating means on the container and indicator operative by a turning movement of the closure cap to'remove it from the container to effect breaking the indicator. In this arrangement the container is provided with a neck 30 and a sleeve 3| is engaged on said neck and secured thereto, as by soldering, welding or otherwise, with the end portion of the sleeve engaged on the container neck flanged to extend radially outward and then downwardly parallelly of the axis of the container and to engage with the container body, as at 32. The sleeve 3! is provided with a screw thread It to cc-operate with the complemental screw thread 2! formed on the interior of the body of the closure cap. The indicator 23 depends from the radially outwardly extending flange 24 having the weakening zone 25 at the juncture thereof with the outer surface of the body of the closure To hold the closure cap to the container and effect breaking of the indicator by a turning movement of the closure cap to unscrew it from the container neck the interior surface of the radially extending portion of the flange 24 is provided with serrations or teeth 33 spacedabout said flange and extending transversely of the radially extending portion of the sleeve flange 3?. to co-operate with pawl means arranged on said radially extending portion of said flange 32, and shown as comprising a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed resilient pawls (Figure 6) stamped from the material of said radially extending portion of the sleeve flange 32 and bent to extend upward therefrom. As the closure is turned to screw it onto the container and the serrations or teeth 33 move relative tothe pawls 3d, said pawls will yield and the teeth 33 ride over the same, and when the closure has been 3| to'compress the sealing pad or gasket 22 between the closure and said sleeve the pawls will engage teeth 33, as shown in Figure '7, and resist turning movement of the indicator with the closure in turning the closure cap to unscrew it from the container and thereby set up a torsional stress as well as exert an upward force on the indicator, which force in conjunction with break the indicator.

In Figure 8 is shown an adaptation of the closure cap of Figure 1 to a sheet metal container the torsional stress will of the type shown in Figure 5 having the neck 30 with the sleeve 3| engaged on the neck and secured thereto, as by soldering, welding or otherwise. However, instead of the end of the sleeve engaged on the neck being arranged with the flange 24 as in Figure 5, the end portion of the sleeve engaged on the neck is arranged to diverge outwardly, as at 35. The indicator 23 may be provided with the ledge 26 as in Figure l and the diverging end 35 spring over said ledge when the closure cap is applied to the container. However, the indicator is preferably provided with two or more teeth 26, as shown, which are adapted to ride over and engage below said diverging end 35 of the sleeve 3| as the closure cap is screwed onto the neck sleeve 3|, this being greatly facilitated due to the resiliency or springiness of the metal of the sleeve 3|. In turning the closure cap to unscrew it from the container sleeve 3| the ledge 26, or the teeth 26', will engage with the edge of the diverging portion 35 of the sleeve SI and by said engagement resist movement of the indicator with the closure cap from the container sleeve, thereby setting up stresses to not only break the indicator but break the indicator from the closure cap.

The arrangement in Figure 13 is similar to that shown in Figure 8, except that the edge of the diverging portion 35 of the sleeve 3| is provided with serrations or teeth, and the teeth 26,

;or the ledge 26, on the indicator are adapted to engage said serrations or teeth, as shown at 35, to prevent participating movement of the indicator with the closure cap in removing the closure cap from the container and setting up stresses that will effect breaking of the indicator itself and breaking of theindicator from the body of the closure cap. In the arrangement of Figure 8 the edge of the diverging portion 35 of the sleeve 3! may also be interrupted or provided with teeth, as shown in Figure 13, and the ledge 26' be continuous. In said arrangement as the closure cap is moved to remove it from the container the engagement of the ledge 26 with the serrated edge of the diverging portion 35 will deflect said'diverging portion outwardly and upwardly and thereby exert an outward thrust and axial stress on the indicator that will break the indicator and break the indicator from the closure cap.

In the arrangement of Figures 14 and 15 the radially outwardly extending flange 24 carrying the indicator skirt 23 extends from the outer surface of the body of the closure cap within the end of the body. The indicator is provided with the ledge 26 and the container with the lugs [8. However, the lugs I8 are arranged on the container below an annular shoulder having cam recesses extended into and spaced about the same, as shown at 37. The end of the body of the closure cap is arranged with cam portions or projections 38 to interengage with the cam recesses which will ride up the cam surfaces of the recesses 31 by a turning movement of the closure cap and thereby effect axial movement of the closure cap and engage the ledge 26 with the lugs Hi, the engagement of the ledge 26 with the lugs l8 resisting such movement of the closure cap from the container and exerting a stress on the indicator that will break the indicator and also break the indicator from the body of the closure cap at the weakening zone 25.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device including a container and a closure of the cap type having an internally threaded wall adapted to engage an external thread on the container and to normally completely cover the container opening, said closure having an integral peripheral means below the thread constituting an externally visible readily breakable preformed indicator, said means including an annular laterally extending flange, and a ratchet like device normally concealed by the peripheral means and serving to interengage the container with the said flange, said device being of generally ring shape and having resilient upward extending ratchet prongs, the flange having teeth on its underside lateral of the closure wall for engaging said prongs, to thus resist unscrewing of the closure, said teeth causing said prongs to bend upward on forcibly unscrewing the closure to cause said teeth to exert an upward as well as a circular breaking stress on said flange for pro ducing a uniform fracture betweenthe flange and the closure wall.

2. A device including a container having an outlet neck and an annular lateral shoulder at the base of the neck, a cap for said neck threadedly secured thereto, said cap having an annular outward extending readily breakable flange overlying said shoulder, the latter and the flange having resilient ratchet means therebetween permitting the cap to be freely secured to the neck but preventing unscrewing of the cap without breakage of the said flange, said ratchet means comprising upward extending resilient ratchet teeth to cause an axial upward breaking stress on the flange on unscrewing the cap.

3. A device including a container having an outlet, a metallic neck secured to the container at the outlet, a closure cap threadedly connected to the neck and having an integral laterally extending readily breakable annular flange, said metallic neck having an annular outward extending integral shoulder underlying said flange, said shoulder having resilient upward extending ratchet like prongs formed therefrom, and the flange having on its underside teeth for engagement with said prongs to resist unscrewing of the cap without breakage of said flange, and said flange having an annular depending skirt extending around the shoulder and serving to conceal said prongs.

JOHN HAMBERGER. 

